Bobbin orienting arrangement for textile machines



July 22, 1969 H. WALK 3,456,770

BOBBIN ORIENTING ARRANGEMENT FOR TEXTILE MACHINES Filed Nov. 27, 1967 s sheets-sheet 1 1 Inventor: M414 7 1141/4. flmlM w 13 H. WALK July 22, 1969 BOBBIN ORIENTING ARRANGEMENT FOR TEXTILE MACHINES Filed Nov. 27, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 H. WALK July 22, 1969 BOBBIN ORIENTING ARRANGEMENT FOR TEXTILE MACHINES Filed Nov. 27, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 0 Cum,

au h 3,456,770 BOBBIN ORIENTING ARRANGEMENT FOR TEXTILE MACHINES Hansjorg Walk, Ebersbach an der Fils, Germany, assignor to Zinser-Textilmaschinen Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Ehersbach an der Fils, Germany Filed Nov. 27, 1967, Ser. No. 685,927 Claims priority, application Germany, Nov. 28, 1966 Int. Cl. 365g 47/24 US. Cl. 193-43 16 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Tapered bobbins in a random oriented condition in which the narrow ends of some bobbins point in one direction, and the narrow ends of other bobbins point in the opposite direction, are consecutively supported at the ends thereof over an opening whose length is shorter than the length of the bobbins, but which is wider than the bobbin. Each supported bobbin is pushed in longitudinal direction thereof to an unbalanced position in which the wide end and the center of gravity thereof are located over the opening so that each bobbin drops through the opening with the wide end leading whereby the bobbins are uniformly oriented.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Apparatus is known for sorting random oriented conical bobbins or other objects in such a manner that all narrow ends point in one direction, and all wide ends of the bobbins point in the opposite direction. The term random oriented is used in the present application to describe bobbins whose narrow ends, or wide ends, respectively, do not point in the same direction.

The sorting and orienting of bobbins is required in textile machines such as spinning machines, twisting machines, fiyer machines and winding machines. Particularly, oriented bobbins are required for supplying bobbins to automatic donning apparatus of spinning machines or twisting machines. Such donning apparatus includes transporting devices for transporting the bobbins which are held by holding members on a conveyor in an upright position. In order to load the conveyor, bobbins in a substantially vertical position with the wider end pointing downward, are dropped onto the holding members of the conveyor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is one object of the invention to improve bobbin orienting apparatus according to the prior art, and to reliably orient bobbins at a high speed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus for rapidly orienting and separating random oriented objects such as bobbins.

Another object of the invention is to discharge all oriented bobbins successively through an outlet opening at the same point of the apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bobbin orienting apparatus which can be added to existent bobbin changing apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bobbin orienting apparatus which can be easily adapted to operation with bobbins of different length and diameter.

With these objects in view, the present invention relates to an arrangement by which random oriented objects, specifically bobbins are oriented so that all bobbins are discharged from the apparatus in a position in which the same end leads. For example, if the wider end of a tapered bobbin leads during dropping of the bobbin, it can be directly placed on a holding member or spindle. The invention is not limited, however, to random oriented nited States Patent O 3,456,770 Patented July 22, 1969 bobbins, but other objects having different ends may also be oriented by the arrangement of the invention.

A preferred method of the invention comprises the steps of consecutively placing random oriented objects bobbins in a supported position over an opening, and moving each supported bobbin longitudinally relative to the opening to an unbalanced position in which a first end and the center of gravity of the respective bobbin are located over the opening while the second end of the bobbin is still supported. Consequently, each bobbin drops through the opening with the first end leading whereby the bobbins are uniformly oriented.

The opening is shorter than the length of each bobbin and wider than the wider end thereof. The random oriented bobbins are horizontally disposed to form a vertical stack, and successively drop to a horizontally supported position when an unbalanced bobbin drops through the opening. Each bobbin is moved horizontally in longitudinal direction thereof and of the opening to the unbalanced position.

One embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention comprises feeding means, preferably a vertical chute holding a stack of random oriented bobbins, for succesively supplying bobbins to supporting means having an elongated opening whose length is shorter than the length of the bobbins and whose width is greater than the width of the same. Operating means, preferably including two operating members located at the ends of the opening, engaged only first ends of each supported bobbin, for example the wide end of a tapered bobbin, for moving the same in longitudinal direction thereof to the unbalanced position in which the first end thereof and the center of gravity are located over the opening, while the second end is still supported on the supporting means.

The operating members are preferably simultaneously reciprocated toward and away from each other and the bobbin between the same, and are disposed at same levels to engage the wide end of the supported bobbin and to pass the narrow end of the same. Consequently, only one of the operating members engages the wide end of the supported bobbin during movement of the operating members toward each other. In this manner, the wide end of the bobbin is pushed to a position located over the opening, while the narrow end is pushed farther over the supporting means, and the bobbin is unbalanced and drops with the wide end leading through the opening.

It has been found that a bobbin can be discharged in this manner through the opening even if it is the lowest bobbin of a stack of random oriented bobbins located in a vertical chute. However, in such an arrangement, the operating member which passes the narrow end of the lowest and supported bobbin engages the bobbin directly above the same. Since this higher bobbin cannot be longitudinally displaced since it is located in a chute, damage to the operating member is prevented by making the operating members resilient or by selecting the length of the strokes of the operating members so that the same push the bobbins a short distance only whereupon further longitudinal movement of the bobbins takes place due to inertia.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a separating member is inserted between the lowest and supported bobbin, and the next higher bobbin so that the stack of bobbins is supported while the lowest bobbin is displaced to fall through the opening.

Since the movements of the separating means and of the operating members must be synchronized, it is advantageous to provide common drive means for the separating means and the operating members.

Since the separating means, for example a flat plate, when inserted between the lowest bobbin and the next highest bobbin, slightly raises the latter, the operating member which cooperates with the narrow end of the lowest bobbin, can pass the same without engaging the next higher bobbin. The lowest bobbin can be freely discharged through the opening without interference of the next higher bobbin, particularly if the separating plate is retracted only after the lowest bobbin has dropped through the opening. When the separating plate is retracted, the next higher bobbin drops to a position supported over the opening.

It is preferred to use electromagnetic means as drive means for the generating members and separating means, but it is also possible to manually operate the apparatus.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a front elevation, partially in vertical section, illustrating an embodiment of the invention in combination with a conveyor band for transporting bobbins;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 22 in FIG. 1, but showing a bobbin in a position differently oriented than the bobbin shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1 shown in vertical section;

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram illustrating the electric circuit of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fregmentary front elevation, partially in vertical section, illustrating a modification of the embodiment of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation illustrating a part of the embodiment of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring first to FIGS. 1 to 4, the apparatus has an upright chute 10 having a rectangular outlet 13 at the lower end thereof which opens into a sorting chamber 11 communicating with the interior of a transversely projecting casing 19, best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. The bottom plate of the casing has a rectangular opening 15 whose length is shorter than the length of a bobbin, and whose width is greater than the greatest width of the bobbin. Opening 15 is disposed at the upper end of a downwardly tapering chute 12, which ends in a lower ends in a lower outlet opening 81 having a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the wider end of a bobbin.

A vertical stack of random oriented bobbins 16 is located in feeding chute 10. Bobbins 16 are slender tapered frustoconical tubes having wide ends 18 and narrow ends 17, some of the bobbins in chute 10 having ends pointing to one side, and other bobbins having ends pointing to the other side. The cross section of chute 10 is rectangular, and corresponds to the dimensions of bobbins 16 so that the bobbins successively drop to a position in which the lowest bobbin 16" rests with its ends 13" and 17" on portions 72 and 73 of a support plate 14 which is a portion of the bottom wall of casing 19. Supporting portions 72 and 73 are located adjacent the shorter sides of the rectangular opening 15, and are shown to be fiat. However, a difierent contuor, preventing lateral displacement of the supported bobbin 16" may be provided and have a shape corresponding to the shape of the recess 74 in FIG. 6 which shows a part of a modified embodiment.

The casing 19 houses operating means for discharging the lowest tube 16" through opening 15 into the lower chute 12, and separating means including a separating plate which is located at a level slightly above the lowest supported bobbin 16".

Drive means 20 include an electromagnet 29 having terminals and operating a magnetizable armature 27 to move in the direction of the arrow A into an inner bore 31 of electromagnet 29 when the same is energized. A push rod 26, guided in a bearing 27, and another push rod 28 having two end portions 34 and 35, are displaced when electromagnet 29 is energized. Push rod 26 carries the separating plate 25, and portions 34 and respectively cooperate with arms 36 and 37 of a pair of operating members 23 and 24 pivotally mounted on pivots 21 and 22 and having end portions and 41 respectively located in sorting chamber 11 at opposite ends of the opening 15 and the lowest bobbin 16", as best seen in FIG. 2.

End portions 40 and 41 of operating members 23 and 24 are located at a level which is higher than the level of the highest point of the narrow end 17", but lower than the highest point of the wider end 18" of the lowest bobbin 16", as best seen in FIG. 1. Separating plate 25 is located slightly above the highest point at the wide end 18" of bobbin 16", as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.

When electromagnet 29 is energized, separating plate 25 is advanced to the position shown in broken lines in FIG. 3 and slightly raises bobbin 16' which is located above the lowest supported bobbin 16". Thereupon, end portions 34 and 35 of drive member 28 engage arms 36 and 37 so that end portions 40 and 41 of operating members 23 and 24 move toward each other to the position shown in broken lines in FIG. 2 only for operating member 24.

In the position of bobbin 16" shown in FIG. 2, end portion 40 is located above the highest point of the narrow end 17", while end portion 41 is located directly opposite the wide end 18 of bobbin 16".

In the position of the bobbin 16 shown in FIG. 1, end portion 40 is located opposite the wide end 18", while end portion 41 is located above the narrow end 17 Therefore, irrespective of the orientation and position of the lowest bobbin 16", only one of the end portions 40 or 41 of the operating members 23 or 24 will engage 'the wide end of the lowest bobbin 16 and push the same in longitudinal direction while the other operating member is ineffective.

When the wide end 18" of the lowest bobbin is pushed by the respective operating member to a position in which this wide end is located directly over the opening 15, the center of gravity of the bobbin is still located over opening 15 so that the bobbin is unbalanced and turns about its supported narrow end 17" while dropping through opening 15 with the wide end 18" leading.

If bobbin 16" is in the position of FIG. 1, the wide end 18" on the left will be the leading end passing first into chute 12, while in the position of the bobbin 16" shown in FIG. 2, the wide end 18" on the right will be leading when the bobbin drops into the chute.

The pivotal movement of the dropping bobbin is best shown in chain lines in FIG. 5, which illustrates a modification. It will be seen that the chute 12 guides the dropping bobbin toward the outlet opening 81 at the lower end of chute 12 so that the bobbin drops in a substantially vertical position with its wider end leading out of outlet 81 onto a frustoconical holder 45 fitting into the wide end of the bobbin and being carried by a conveyor band 46 so that the bobbin is transported by the same to another part of the textile machine where bobbins are donned on spindles. As shown in FIG. 1, another bobbin 16a is transported by the conveyor 46 on a holder 45', while the next following holder 45 is located under outlet 81 ready to receive bobbin 16" when the same drops through chute 12.

When a bobbin 16" has been discharged through opening 15, electromagnet 29 is de-energized, and spring 32 retracts members 28 and 26 so that portions 34 and 35 release operating members 23 and 24 which are returned to the initial inoperative positions by springs 38 and 39.

Member 26 withdraws the separating plate 25 so that the next higher bobbin 16 can drop into sorting chamber 11 to a position in which its ends 17 and 18 are supported on portions 72 and 73 while the greater part of the bobbin is located over opening 15, as shown for bobbin 16" in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The separating means 25, 26, and the operating means 23, 24, 40, 41 are operated by drive means including electromagnet 29 and spring 32 in timed relationship so that first separating plate 25 is moved to the operative position shown in chain lines in FIG. 3 for supporting the bobbins in chute 10, and for separating the next higher bobbin from the lowest bobbin 16" whereupon the operating means 23, 24 are actuated by members 34, 35 to perform inward reciprocating strokes indicated by arrows B and C in FIG. 2 for discharging the lowest bobbin 16".

As explained above, only the operating member located opposite the wide end of the lowest bobbin is operative to push the bobbin to the unbalanced position in which the wide end thereof is located over the opening 15. The respective other operating member performs an idle inward stroke.

The low chute 12 is not absolutely necessary, since the discharged bobbins drop out of opening 15 oriented in the same direction with the wider end leading. However, when it is desired to drop the bobbins directly onto conveyor means 46, 45, the conveyor is stepwise operated and whenever a bobbin is discharged through chute 12, a holder 45 registers with the circular outlet 81 whose diameter is only slightly greater than the diameter of the wider ends of the bobbins.

Since the stepwise movement of the conveyor 46, 45 must be synchronized with the discharge of bobbins, the motor driving the conveyor 46, 45 is controlled by switches in accordance with the electric circuit shown in FIG. 4.

A discharged bobbin passing through outlet 81 operates switch actuator 47 of a switch means 48 so that a relay 61 is energized and relay contact member 53 of a switch 54 is displaced to the position shown in chain lines in FIG. 4 so that drive motor 49 is energized through lines 62 from a source of voltage 80 and moves conveyor band 46 with holders 45 in the direction of the arrow D. Since switch actuator 47 is operated by a dropping bobbin directly before the same drops onto a holder 45, the movement of the conveyor band 46 is started when the dropped bobbin is already held by holder 45.

Another sensing switch 51 has a switch actuator 64 located in the path of movement of holders 45 so that the arrival of a holder 45 under the outlet 81 of chute 12 is sensed, Switch 51 closes and effects energization of the relay 52 which acts on contact member 53 to move the same to the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 4 so that the circuit of motor 49 is interrupted and the same is stopped together with conveyor band 46 in a position in which a holder 45 is located directly under outlet 81.

At the same time, two contacts are connected by contact member 53 so that an impulse is produced in circuit 57 by an impulse generator 56 for energizing the winding 58 of the electromagnet 29 described with reference to FIG. 2. The energized magnet 29 causes the discharge of the lowermost bobbin 16" into chute 12 and dropping of the same through outlet 81 onto the respective aligned holder 45. Since the dropping bobbin also operates switch actuator 47, the described sequence of operations is repeated, and a bobbin is placed on each holder 45 of conveyor band 46 and transported to another part of the textile machine where the bobbins 16a are removed from holders 45 and donned on spindles.

As explained above, the operating members 23 and 24 are simultaneously moved toward each other to an inner position shown only for operating member 24 in FIG. 2.

The operating members may be located over the opening 15 in the inner positions thereof so that the wide end of the respective bobbin 16" is reliably pushed to a position located over the opening 15. It is, however, not absolutely necessary to move operating members 23 and 24 so far inward, since a short stroke is sutficient to push the lowest bobbin 16" in longitudinal direction whereupon the bobbin moves due to inertia to the position in which its wide end 18" is located over opening 15.

The separating means 25, 26 has not only the purpose of raising the upper bobbins and thus separating the lowest bobbin from the next higher bobbin during the longitudinal movement of the lowest bobbin 16", but also performs the additional function of loosening the stack of bobbins when the same are jammed in chute 10, or in a hopper or container above the same. Evidently, it is not necessary to provide a rectangular separating plate, but a fork-shaped separating member may be used.

The modification illustrated in FIG. 5 corresponds in every respect to the construction described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, and corresponding parts are indicated by like reference numerals. The only difference is found in the construction of opening 15' in the support plate 14a under the sorting chamber 11a.

While in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3, the length of opening 15 is only slightly less than the length of the bobbins, the embodiment of FIG. 5 provides an opening 15' which is substantially shorter than the length of the bobbins, but longer than the distance from the wide end of a bobbin to its center of gravity. The shorter length of opening 15' has the advantage that bobbins of different lengths can be oriented by the apparatus. However, it is necessary that a bobbin 16" longitudinally displaced by one of the operating members 23 or 24 to a position in which its wide end is located over opening 15, has its center of gravity also located over opening 15 so that the bobbin is unbalanced and drops with its wide end leading out of opening 15' and into chute 12.

The apparatus can also be adapted for bobbins having different widths. Detachable supporting members 70 and 71 are placed at the ends of the elongated opening 15, and are formed with angular recesses 74, as best seen in FIG. 6. The height of the supporting members 70 is selected so that the wide end of the respective bobbin 16" supported thereon is located at the level of operating members 23 and 24, while the narrower end is located below the same. When supporting members 70 and 71 are attached to support plate 14a, thinner bobbins can be oriented than when the support members are detached and removed. For bobbins of different thickness, different support members 70, 71 are used.

Recesses 74 permit the longitudinal movement of the bobbins by operating members 23 or 24, but hold the same against displacement into casing 19.

FIG. 5 shows the operating members 23 and 24 with end portions 40 and 41 in the inner position for discharging the bobbin 16", which is shown longitudinally displaced with the wide end located over opening 15 and the narrow end supported on support plate 14a. Bobbin 16" is about to drop with the wide end leading through the opening while pivoting about the portion of support plate 14a located on the right side as viewed in FIG. 5 to the positions shown in chain lines in FIG. 5.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of arrangements for orienting random oriented bobbins so that corresponding ends of the same all point in the same direction, differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a method and apparatus for orienting tapered random oriented bobbins so that the wider ends of the bobbins are located at the lower end of bobbins which are discharged in a substantially vertical position, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. The method of uniformly orienting objects having different first and second ends, comprising consecutively placing random-oriented objects over an opening in a position supported at both ends; and then moving each supported object in longitudinal direction in accordance with the orientation thereof relative to said opening to an unbalanced position in which said first end and the center of gravity of the respective objects are located over said opening while said second end is still supported so that each object drops through said opening with said first end leading whereby said objects are uniformly oriented.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said random oriented objects are horizontally disposed to form a vertical stack, and successively drop to a horizontally supported position when an unbalanced object drops through said opening; and wherein each object in said horizontally supported position is moved horizontally in longitudinal direction thereof to said unbalanced position.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said objects are tapered bobbins and have wide first ends and narrow second ends; wherein said opening is shorter than the length of each bobbin and wider than said wide end; wherein said wide end of each supported body bobbin is pushed to a position located over said opening while said narrow end is supported.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the width of said opening along the entire length thereof is greater than the greatest width of said objects; and wherein the length of said objects is greater than the length of said opening.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said objects have wide first ends and narrow second ends; and wherein said opening is substantially rectangular.

6. Bobbin orienting apparatus for uniformly orienting bobbins having different first and second ends comprising, in combination, supporting means forming an elongated opening having a length shorter than the length of said bobbins and a width greater than the width of the same; feeding means for successively supplying random-oriented bobbins to said supporting means so that a supplied bobbin is located over said opening with both said ends thereof supported on said supporting means adjacent the ends of said opening; and operating means movable in longitudinal direction of said opening for engaging the first end of each supported bobbin and for moving the same in longitudinal direction in accordance with the orientation thereof to an unbalanced position in which the first end thereof and the center of gravity of the bobbin are located over said opening while said second end is still supported on said supporting means so that each bobbin drops through said opening with said first end leading whereby said bobbins are uniformly oriented.

7. Bobbin orienting apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said first ends are wide and said second ends are narrow; and wherein said operating means include two operating members located at the ends of said elongated opening and being reciprocable toward and away from each other and the ends of the supported bobbin between an outer position and an inner position, said operating members being disposed in such a position as to engage the wide end of the supported bobbin and to pass said narrow end of the same so that only one of said operating members engages said wide end of the supported bobbin during movement of said operating members toward each other whereby said wide end is pushed to a position located over said opening so that the bobbin is unbalanced and drops with said wide end leading through said opening.

8. Bobbin orienting apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said operating means include drive means for simultaneously reciprocating said operating members toward and away from each other.

9. Bobbin orienting apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said operating members are levers having dis charge end portions located in the region of said opening for cooperating with said ends of the supported bobbin; and wherein said drive means include a reciprocating drive member simultaneously engaging said levers for pivotally displacing the same so that the discharge end portion located opposite the wide end of the supported bobbin engages the same.

10. Bobbin orienting apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said feeding means comprise an upright chute located above said opening for guiding a stack of said random oriented bobbins toward said supporting means so that the lowest bobbin of the stack rests with both ends thereof on said supporting means in a supported position, whereby whenever a bobbin discharged through said opening, the next higher bobbin is moved by gravity to said supported position.

11. Bobbin orienting apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said feeding means include separating means movable between an inoperative position and a holding position located between said lowest bobbin and said next higher bobbin; and wherein said operating means include drive means for reciprocating said separating means between said inoperative and holding positions in synchronism with the movement of said operating means so that said next higher bobbin is held spaced from said lowest bobbin while the latter is pushed to said unbalanced position.

12. Bobbin orienting apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said first ends are wide and said second ends are narrow; wherein said operating means include two operating members located at the ends of said elongated opening and being reciprocable toward and away from each other and the ends of the supported bobbin between an outer position and an inner position, said operating members being disposed at a certain level to engage the wide end of the supported bobbin and to pass said narrow end of the same so that only one of said operating members engages said wide end of the supported bobbin during movement of said operating members toward each other whereby said wide end is pushed to a position located over said opening so that the bobbin is unbalanced and drops with said wide end leading through said opening; wherein said feeding means comprise an upright chute located above said opening for guiding a stack of said random oriented bobbins toward said supporting means so that the lowest bobbin of the stack rests with the ends thereof on said supporting means in a supported position, whereby whenever a bobbin discharged through said opening, the next'higher bobbin is moved by gravity to said supported position, and a separating means movable between an inoperative position and a holding position located between said lowest bobbin and said next higher bobbin; and wherein said operating means include drive means for reciprocating said separating means between said inoperative and holding positions, and for simultaneously reciprocating said operating members toward and away from each other so that said next higher bobbin is held spaced from said lowest bobbin while the same is pushed by said one operating member to said unbalanced position.

13. Bobbin orienting apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said separating means includes a flat separating member; and including means guiding said separating member for reciprocating movement transverse to the direction of movement of said operating members and at a vertical level higher than the level of said operating members.

14. Bobbin orienting apparatus for uniformly orienting bobbins having wide first ends and narrow second ends, comprising supporting means defining an elongated opening which is shorter but wider than a bobbin; feeding means for successively supplying random-oriented bobbins to said supporting means so that each of the thus supplied bobbins is located over said opening with the ends thereof supported by said supporting means adjacent the ends of said opening; and operating means engaging the first end of each supported bobbin for moving the same in the longitudinal direction thereof to an unbalanced position in which the first end and the center of gravity of the bobbin are located over said opening while the second end is still supported by said supporting means so that the bobbin drops through said opening with the first end leading whereby the bobbins passing through said opening are uniformly oriented; and a downwardly tapering chute located under said supporting means and said opening for receiving discharged orientedbobbins and for guiding the same into a substantially vertical position, said chute having a lower end provided with an outlet of a width slightly greater than the width of the wider first end of a bobbin so that bobbins are discharged from said outlet in a vertical position having the wide first end thereof located at the lower end; said feeding means comprising an upright chute vertically aligned with said downwardly tapering chute and located above said opening for guiding a stack of said random-oriented bobbins toward said supporting means so that the lowest bobbin of the stack rests with the ends thereof on said supporting means in supported position whereby, whenever a bobbin is discharged through said opening into said downwardly tapering chute, the next higher bobbin is moved by gravity to said supported position.

15. Bobbin orienting apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein said feeding means comprise a separating means movable between an inoperative position and a holding position located between the lowest bobbin and the next higher bobbin; wherein said operating means include drive means reciprocating said separating means between said inoperative and holding positions; wherein said supporting means include a flat casing horizontally projecting from said chutes and having a bottom plate formed with said opening; wherein said operating means, said drive means, and said separating means are located in said casing; and wherein the height of said casing is slightly greater than the height of a bobbin so that only the supported lowest bobbin can be longitudinally displaced by said operating means while the next higher bobbin is located in said upright chute of said feeding means.

16. Bobbin orienting apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein said supporting members have top faces formed with angular recesses for receiving said ends of the bobbin.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,242,086 10/1917 Henriquez. 2,572,942 10/1951 Malsbary.

ANDRES H. NIELSEN, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 198-33 

